bradshaw



3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

S. S. BRADSHAW.

` CABINET BEDSTBAD.

No. 323,267. Patented July 28, 1885.

In V671?? 7^ (No Model.) I 3 Sheets-Sheet 2. S. S. BRADSHAW.

CABINET BEDSTBAD. No. 323,267. Patented JulyNZB, 1885.

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(No Modem l '3 sheets-'sheety s'.

s. s. BRADSHAW.

CABINET BEDSTBAD.

Ptented July 28, 1885.

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i s UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SILAS S. BIMDSHAW, E CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,ASSIGNCE To SAMUEL S. CHIS- IIoLM, 0E SAME PLACE.

CABINETBEDSTEAD. l

CPLLCIFECATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 323,267, dated July28, 1885.

Application filed January 23, 1884, (No model.)

.To all wtom, zit may concern.-

Be it known that L SILAS S. BEADSHAW, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful mprovernents in Cabinet-Beds, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of folding beds comprising astationary part or easing having'a vertical back portion or wall, whichforms the head-board of the bed when the latter is unfolded, andafolding bed-frame hinged to the stationary easing and construct1 ed tofold against the latter in such manner I5 that the lower and sidewallsof the folding frame form, with the stationary easing, an articleresembling a cabinet or other si milar piece of furniture.

The object of my invention is to improve 2o the construction of foldingbeds of the character described in several particulars, as willhereinafter appear; and it consistsin the matters hereinafter describedand pointed out in the claims.

The folding bed herein shown as embodying my invention consists,generally, of a station- `ary part or casing having a vertical rearwall, which forms a head-board when the bed is unfolded, and a foldingbed-frame hinged to the 3o stationary casing at a point at some distanceforward from the vertical rear wall of the said casing,and havingafolding foot section which is hinged to the main part of the frame insuch manner as to fold into a position at right an- 3 5 gles with thesaid main section, the parts being so constructed that when the bed isfolded the main section will form the vertical front wall, and thebottom surface of the foot section will be horizontal and form the topsurface of 4o the article. The foot section, as shown, consists of twoside pieces or rails, abottom, and a transverse piece forming afoot-board, and the said foot section is hinged to the main section atone edge of its bottom, the side rails 4 5 of the foot section beingconstructed at their ends adjacent to the main sections to overlap orpass at the sides of the side pieces of the main section when the footsection is folded into position at right angles with the'main section,5o the side rails ofthe foot Section in the particular in devices forsupporting the mattress, for

form of device shown in the accompanying drawings as one way inwhiehmyinvention may be carried out, being placed at a less distance apartthan the side rails of the main section and adapted to enter between therails of the latter when the parts are folded. The bed hereinillustrated is also provided with swinging panels hinged to swingaboutvertical axes in the rear verticalwall or head-board of the bed,said panels, when swung outwardly at right 6o angles with thehead-board, being constructed to form with the side rails of thebed-frame A continuous side walls to the folded structure. The inventionalso embraces improvements automatically locking the folding frame inits open-or unfolded position, and in other details of construction inbeds of the general character mentioned, as will hereinafter fullyappear.

The invention may be more fully understood by reference to theaccompanying drawings, in Which- Figure l is a perspective view of acabinet or folding bedstead embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a centralsection thereof with the seetinal bed-frame folded. Fig. 3 is a centrallongitudinal section with the bed-frame unfolded and ready for use. Fig.4 is a detail view showing one of the latches. Fig. 5 is a plan view ofthe bed-frame opened out and ready for use, illustrating moreparticularly the relation of the foot section to the body section of thebed-frame.

Referring by letter to the several figures of 8 5 the drawings,in whichlike letters denote like parts, A is the upright stationary easing ofthe bed, which comprises a vertical rear portion or wall, A, formingthehead-board ofthe bed when the latter is unfolded, a relatively go lowfront wall or cross-piece, a', and vertical side pieces or walls, az,uniting the back A and cross-piece a', Said walls a? being preferablyextended some distance above the crosspiece a and of considerably lessheight than the wall A.

The folding bed-frame comprises two parts or sections B and C, the partB constituting the main or principal portion of the frame, which ispivotally connected or hinged at its Ioo upperend to the stationarycasing, and the part C forming a foot section,which is hinged to theouter or free end of the section B. As herein illustrated,the section Bconsists principally of two side walls or rails, B', and a front orwall, B, and said part B is hinged to the stationary casing by hinges b,attached to the cross-piece a', and the lower edge of the front wall,B2, of the section B. The side walls ofthe section B are preferablyconstructed to fit closely between the sides c2 of the casing A, and thelatter aredesirably made to come at approximately the same height abovethe floor as the tops of the side rails, B,ivhen the parts are unfolded.The section Bis,as shown, provided with hinged or folding legs a, bywhich its outer end is supported when the bed is unfolded,said legs,asshown,being arranged to fold into suitable recesses in the face oftheouter wall of the section B in a familiar manner.

. The foot section C preferably consists of two side rails, C', abottom, C, and an end piece or foot-board, C, and the said foot sectionis hinged at its inner or upper end to the free or outer end of thesection B, preferably by hinges c attached to the bottom CZ and across-piece, b', upon the part B. The foot section C is provided withfolding legs c, piv-` oted, as shown,upon the foot-board C3,where by theouter end of the said foot section is supported in its horizontalposition when the bed is unfolded.

The bottom or front wall, B2, of the part B is constructed to form thefront vertical wall of the folded bed structure, and for this purposewill usually be paneled to imitate the front of a desk or cabinet, asshown. It may, however, be made to resemble the front of a chest. ofdrawers or other article of furniture.

The foot sect-ion C is constructed to fold into a horizontal position,or at right angles to the part B, so that its bottom G2 will form ahorizontal top surface to the folded structure, the cross-piece b', towhich the said bottom C2 is hinged, preferably being constructed to liein the same plane with and form a forward continuation of the saidbottom Cl and part of the top surface of the structure when the latteris folded, as clearly shown in Figs. l and 2.

In order to prevent the interference of the side rails, C, of the footsection C with the side rails of the main section B when the former isturned up into its position at right angles to the latter, the adjacentends of the side rails of the two parts are constructed to overlap eachother, and for this purpose are preferably arranged in differentvertical planes, whereby each side rail of one part will pass at oneside of the adjacent rail of the other part. In the particularconstruction of the parts herein shown the side rails, C, of the footsection C are placed at a less distance apart than the side rails, B',of the main section, whereby the said side rails, C, pass inside oftheside rails, B,when the bed is folded. rlhis construction is desirable inthe particular design for the exterior of the bed herein shown; but incarrying out my invention the rails may be disposed to overlap eachother otherwise than as shown, with similarly advantageous results asfar as the general construction of the parts B and C is concerned.

It is obvious that when the foot section is hinged to the body sectionat its bottom, or,- in otherwords, by hinges located at the adjacentlower corners of the foot and bottom sections, the bottom of the footsection will stand at a less distance from the iioor at times when theparts are folded than if the parts were hinged at their adjacent uppercorners or in line with the top edges of the side rails. The differencein height between the folded structures in the two instances will beabout equal to the depth of the foot section, whereby, under theconstruction herein shown, the bottom of the foot section, which formsthe top of the folded bed, will be brought much lower than otherwise,and the structure will therefore be made more compact, while the usuallength in the folding bed-frame is at the same time retained.

The rear wall or head-board, A', of the stationary casing is, as hereinshown and preferably constructed, provided with two hinged or swingingpanels, D, adapted to swing forward at right angles to the plane of theheadboard, and to form parts of the side walls of the folded structure,and also to form, when folded back against the headboard, parts of theornamental surface of the latter. The panels D are preferably set inopenings in the head-board, whereby, when the bed is folded and the saidpanels are swung forward open spaces will be left for the free admissionof air to the interior of the structure. The panels D are hinged in suchposition that, when brought forward into position at right angles withthe head-board, they will lie in the same plane with the side rails, B',said panels, as shown, being for this purpose hinged with their pivotalaxes approximately in the same plane with the outer or front surface ofthe panels, and in the same planes also with the inner faces of the sidewalls, a2, of the stationary casing, so that when said panels are swungoutwardly into contact with the said side walls their outer faces willbe iush with the side rails, B', which, as before stated, are fit-ted toenter closely between the said side walls, at. In the construction ofthe parts herein shown the top edges of the panels D are in the samehorizontal plane with the top or outer ends of the side rails, B, whenthe part B is in its vertical position, the upper parts of the panelsbeing arranged when the parts are folded to overlap or cover the siderails, C, of the foot section and to iit closely beneath the projectingends lof the bottom C2 ofthe said foot section, as clearly shown in Fig.l, whereby ICO IIO

ISO

a neat and ornamental appearance and finish are given to the structure.

A locking device for holding the folding bed-frame in its open orunfolded position is herein shown, and is constructed as follows: Uponthe side rails, B, of the main section B of the head-frame, and at theend of said rails, adjacent to the stationary casing, are pivoted twoswinging latches, E, said latches preferably being located upon theinner faces of the rails and near the upper edges of the latter. Each ofsaid latches consists of a metal bar pivoted at one end to the siderails, B, with their free ends extending beyond the upper ends of thesaid rails. The said latches also are provided upon their free ends withrightangled extensions or lugs c, Fig. 4, which extend outwardly intoposition to engage curved grooves e', formed in the inner faces of theside walls, A, of the stationary easing. The said grooves e are arrangedconcentrically with the pivotal axis about which the section B swings,said grooves being provided with lateral notches or extensions e2,adapted to receive the lug e of the latch E when the bed-frame ishorizontal. Said lug e is adapted to move freely in the groove e whenthe bed-frame is being swung up and down, and the notch e2 is preferablymade to extend downwardly from the said groove, whereby the said lng maydrop into the notch by gravity when said notch and lug are in positionfor engagement. In order to insure the entrance of the lug to the notch,a spring, e3, acting upon the latch to throw its outer end downwardly,may, however, be employed.

The latches E may bemoved by hand to disengage them from the notches e2when it is desired to fold the bed; but, preferably, levers E, havinglateral extensions at their upper ends adapted to engage the latches E,are pivoted upon the rails B below the said latches, and rods or cordsc* are extended from the lower ends of the levers to a point or pointsupon the lower end of the bed-frame,whereby the lever may be moved andthe latches disengaged by a person standing in convenient position forlifting the bed-frame.

In afolding bed constructed,generally,in the manner above set forth, themattress may be supported from the stationary casing and the sections Band C in any well-known or preferred manner. As herein shown, however, asupport for the mattress over the casing A and the main section B isafforded byflexiblesupports, herein shown in the form of chains F,

which are connected at their ends with the lower part of the head-boardA of the casing, and with the outer end of the section B, suitabletransverse slats, 71, being attached to the chains upon which themattress is sustained. As shown inthe drawings, the chains are soarranged that when the bed is unfolded the slats are in approximatelythe same horizontal plane with the bottom C?, of the foot section O, andsprings G affording the usual that the folding or bending of the latterat an acute angle will be prevented.

In folding beds ofthe general character above described, as heretoforeconstructed, the folding parts of the frame have usually been disposedin such manner that either the mattress is doubled at or about itsmiddle and its ends brought together, or, in cases where the foldingframe is in three parts, the end portions of the mattress are foldedover upon or against the middle portion. Serious objections to either ofthese forms of bed are that the mattress, by being bent or folded at anacute angle, in themannerdescribed,becomes in ashort time irregular anduneven, and consequently unfit for use. Another and an importantobjection to beds in which the mattresses are folded as described is,that by the folding of the mattress, in the manner described,access ofair to the mattress and bed-clothing, necessary for the properventilation thereof, will to a great extent be prevented.

In the folding bed constructed as herein in the mattress is avoided,while the mattress is at the same time folded into a sufficientlysmallcompass. By disposing the parts of the frame as described, the mattressis bentat its end portions only, so that its middle part, which is mostused, always remains flat, and, also, the mattress is sustained in aposition favorable to the access of air to all parts thereof when thebed is folded. ln this connection an important advantage is obtained bymaking the head-board with hinged panels, hung in openings therein, forthe reason that when the bed is closed and the upper and lower ends ofthe mattress are bent or folded toward the headboard, the said openingsin the head-board permit a free circulation of air within the space thusinclosed by the mattress and the headboard.

A folding bed such as above described, and comprising a stationarycasing and a hinged or folding bed-fralne having a main part or sectionadapted to fold intoavertieal position to form the front of thestructure, when folded, and a foot section hinged to the outer end ofthe main section and adapted to fold at right angles with said mainsection,so that its bottom surface shall form the top ofthe struct urewhen the parts are folded, may, obviously, so far as its details ofconstruction are concerned, be made IOO IIO

IIS

otherwise than as herein shown, and I desire therefore to claim,broadly, all devices embodying the same principles of construction whichare presentin the bed herein illustrated and described, withoutlimitation to the specilic devices shown, except as set forth in thespecic claims hereto appended.

I am aware that it has been proposed here tofore to construct a bedsteadin the form of a bureau, in which hinged head and foot pieces areadapted to form the back, front, and top of the folded structure. Astructure of this kind differs from that claimed by applicantin havingno stationary head-board, and in having the bed-frame proper, or thepart which supports the mattress, with three hinged joints,

so that the mattress is folded in three places instead of in two places,as in applicauts construction.

I am also aware that it has been proposed in a folding bed-frame of thecharacter above set forth, to construct the frame so that the partsthereof may be folded at right angles with each other by mitering theadjacent ends of the parts of the side rails, the said side rails beinglocated in the same plane. In the construction herein claimed in theseparts the adjacent ends of the side rails are constructed to overlapeach other, with the result of obtaining a more desirable form in theclosed structure and of giving the appearance of continuous side railswhen the bed-frame is unfolded.

I claim as my invention- 1. In afolding bed, thccombiuation, with astationary casing provided with a back wall forming a head-board, of asectional folding bed-frame comprising a main part or section, B, hingedto the said casing, and a foot section, C, hinged to the part A, andconstructed to fold into a position at right angles to the latter, saidsections B and C forming, respectively, the front and top of thestructure when the bed is folded, substantially as described.

2. In a folding bed, the combination, with a stationary casing providedwith a back wall forming a headboard, of a sectional folding` bed-framecomprising a main part or section, B, hinged to the said casing andhaving side walls or rails, B', and a foot section, C, hinged at itsbottom to the part A, and adapted to fold into a position at rightangles to the lat- 'ter, said section C having its side pieces or rails,G, located in position to overlap the side rails, B, of the section B,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a folding bed, the combination, with a stationary casing providedwith aback wall forming a headboard, of a sectional folding bed-frame,comprising a main part or section hinged to the said casing, and a footsection, C, consisting, essentially, of side-rails, C', a bottom, Chauda foot-board, G3, the said foot section being hinged at the edge of itsbottom C2 to the section B, and the sides C being located in position toenter between the sides B of the section B when the bed is folded,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a folding bed, the combination, with a stationary casing, A, and afolding bedframe comprising a main part or section, B, hinged at itsupper end to the casing A, and a foot section, C, hinged to the part B,of a flexible support for the mattress, yconnected at one end with therear wall of the casing and at its opposite end with the outer end ofthe section B, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination, with the stationary casing A and a folding1bed-frame hinged to the casing, the said casing being provided with agroove, e', curved concentrically with the axis ofthe hingedjoint,between the casing and bedframe, and having a notch or lateralextension, e2, of a latch, E, pivoted to the bedframe and engaged withthe said groove, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. The combination, with the stationary casing A and a folding bed-framehinged to the casing, the said casing being provided with a groove, e',curved concentrically with the axis of the hinged joint, between thecasing and frame, and having a notch or lateral extension, e2, of alatch, E, pivoted to the bedframe and engaged with the groove, and aspring applied to throw the latch into position to engage the notch,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7 The combination, with the stationary casing A and a folding bed-framehinged to the casing, the said casing being provided with a groove, e',curved concentrically with the axis of the hinged j oint, between thecasing and bedframe, and provided with a notch or lateral exy tension,e'ofalatch, E, pivoted upon the frame and engaged with the groove, andalever, E', pivoted to the bed-frame in position to engage the latch,whereby the latter may be disengaged from the notch, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature in presence of two witnesses;

SILAS S. BRADSHAW.

Witnesses:

M. J. GLAGn'r'r, Louis NOLTING.

